2. Honeywell Lyric Thermostat Challenges Nest

You’ve heard of the Nest thermostat that learns what temperatures you like at certain times of the day? Now it has some serious competition. The Honeywell Lyric Thermostat communicates with an app on your smartphone.

Tracking your location, it’s smart enough to figure out exactly when you’re going to get home — and it can adjust the temperature to your liking just in time for your arrival. The $280 Honeywell thermostat — $30 more expensive than the Nest — will be available in August.